Chapter 334: Peak of Archmage Rank [2] Lola responded with her usual playful grin, the expression somehow more radiant now that her power had reached its new peak. She stretched gracefully as she rose from her meditation position, her movements carrying an effortless fluidity. "I feel incredible," she answered, her voice warm with satisfaction. "Like I’ve been carrying weights I didn’t even realise were there, and someone finally removed them all at once. My mana reserves have expanded exponentially, and the quality of energy I can channel now has improved. I had always thought that archmage rank was the end, but this...this is something else. I could fight two or three clones of my previous self." She held up one hand and conjured a small sphere of fire that burned with such concentrated intensity it appeared almost white rather than the typical orange-red flames. The demonstration lasted only seconds before she dismissed it with a casual gesture. Noah gulped at the small sphere of fire she had just conjured. Noah felt an endless amount of pure mana coming out of that sphere despite its size. It felt more like a miniature sun than a small sphere of flame "More importantly, I can feel that my understanding of the fire element has deepened considerably. Techniques that seemed impossibly complex before the breakthrough now feel achievable with proper practice. The gap between archmage and peak archmage is far more significant than I anticipated, it’s comparable to a whole rank breakthrough." Lola’s grin widened as she looked directly at Noah. "And I have to say, having my handsome boss here to witness the moment makes the achievement even sweeter. We’re finally ready for the World Tree expedition whenever you want to proceed." Noah raised an eyebrow at her comment, unable to resist responding to her playful tone. "You know, your teasing is getting bolder now that you’ve broken through. Should I be concerned about what happens now?" Before he could react, Lola demonstrated exactly how much her advancement had improved her speed and agility. She appeared directly in front of him with movement so swift it seemed like teleportation, her face positioned mere centimetres away from his. Her breath was warm against his skin as she looked directly into his eyes with amusement. "Are you sure you could stop me... boss?" Lola asked softly, her voice carrying a teasing lilt that made the situation feel both dangerous and playful simultaneously. Noah felt his heart rate spike despite his usual composure around her teasing. The proximity was deliberately provocative, and Lola clearly knew exactly what effect she was having. Her ruby eyes sparkled with mischief as she maintained the intimate distance without actually closing the final gap. For a moment, Noah considered calling her bluff, but instead he turned his head to the side with an exaggerated sigh that carried obvious humor rather than genuine exasperation. "I see the power has gone completely to your head, peak archmage, and suddenly you think you’re irresistible," Noah said in a joking manner. Lola laughed warmly and stepped back to a more appropriate distance, her expression showing satisfaction at having successfully flustered him even if it was for a brief moment. "I don’t think I’m irresistible. I know you find me irresistible. There’s a difference." Despite the teasing nature of the exchange, something had shifted subtly in the atmosphere between them. The playful intimacy felt more genuine than mere flirtation, carrying undertones of actual affection that went beyond simple gratitude or a working relationship. Leo watched the interaction with what could only be described as amusement, the intelligent lion clearly recognising the developing dynamic between his father and his companion. "You’re impossible," Noah muttered, though his smile betrayed that he wasn’t actually complaining about the situation. "And you wouldn’t have it any other way," Lola replied confidently, her grin widening as she recognised his lack of genuine protest. The moment crystallised something that had been building between them for weeks. Their relationship had evolved beyond employer and employee, beyond allies facing danger together, into something warmer and more personal that neither seemed inclined to define too precisely just yet. Noah recognised the need to shift their focus back to the practical matters at hand. The playful moment had been pleasant, but they had serious responsibilities waiting. "We should discuss the auction that’s supposed to happen today. With your breakthrough complete, we need to decide our next steps." Lola’s expression became more serious as she nodded in agreement. "It’s better to move toward the World Tree now rather than delaying further. The timing is actually ideal." Noah had been considering the possibility of postponing to ensure proper preparation. "Should we inform the elven factions that we’re delaying the auction? Give ourselves more time to depart? We can depart later at night with fewer eyes on us." Lola shook her head firmly, her thinking clearly still sharp despite the recent intensive training. "Once we announce a delay, they’ll become immediately suspicious that something unusual is happening. Their attention and scrutiny will increase dramatically. The dark elves might assume we’re secretly partnering with the light elves, while the light elves will suspect collaboration with their enemies. Both conclusions would be false, but perception matters more than truth in political situations. They’ll station more observers, increase their intelligence gathering, and make our movements significantly more difficult." The analysis made complete sense. Noah nodded his understanding. "Alright, we should move now, then. Adrian Silveroak, the queen’s nephew, already provided us with the coordinates and general area where the World Tree is located. We can make our way there directly without needing to involve the elven factions in our preparations. What time do you think we should depart?" Lola glanced toward the shop’s windows, assessing the ambient light conditions outside. "Let’s move immediately. I’ve actually been considering this exact issue during my training sessions, so I spent time improving my stealth skills alongside my breakthrough work. They’ve improved significantly with my advancement to peak archmage rank, so it should be manageable to bypass the elven scouts surrounding this area without detection."